Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-05-25
A WHITEWA ASH BRUSH

The July sunshine was eating down
on the roof OF the old Medbury farm
house like a rain of fire; the branches
OF the old cherry trees scarcely stirred
in the sultry air and the honey suck
les, all in blossom on the eastern an
gle of the house, filled the atmosphere
with spicy odors. It was q summer
landscape, sweet and still, and Ian
guild as a dream of the tropics.
"Oh, DEAR" said Lettuce Wayne
clasping both her little hands above
ner head and yawning until her
mouth looked like ring of coral,
chow warm it is and how everything
seems to bask in the sunbeams.
wish | was little bird swinging in the
topmost branches of that old tree, or
a squirrel in the leafest, shadiest part
of the woods or frog down on the
brink of the stream. | hadn't an
idea that this summer boarding was
so dull-but, after all there is some
thing nice in being so far away from
lovers and morning calls, and evening
soirees, and in the glorious privilege
of wearing calico wrapper all day
Ions, If one chooses, and never thinking
whether ones hair is tumbled Or
not"
For Lettuce Wayne was q belle and
g. beauty, and moreover, an heiress OF
no ipconsiderable magnitude; and, as
she said, it was relief to pass entire.
ly for s. while out Of the sphere OF
adulation and fashion.
''Where are you going, Mrs. Med
bury?" she called to the old lady
who, with a basket on her arm, was
sallying through the gate.
''I'm going to pick blackberries."
F'Can't | help ?"questionei Let
tice
Ms'Dear heart alive, child, no." cried
MRS. Medbury. "What could your
little white satin hands do in a tangle
OF blackberry bushes? It is well
enough for my calloused, sunburnt
old paws, but you're g. different sort
of g person altogether"
EtBut may watch you, mayn't ?"
demanded Lettuce, jumping to her feet
and catching her shady straw hat
from the peg from behind the door,
where it's rose-colored ribbons were
futtering in the breeze.
Mrs. Medbury was busy gathering
the shining Jet berries into her basket,
SIS Lettuce came down the garden
path; she looked up with g smile.
NWhat are you going to do with SO
many Mrs. Medbury?" asked the
girl. eve can never eat them ALL
mo more We couldn't" said Mrs.
Medbury gravely. "Why, child, Pm
goin' to sell them"
"Where?''
well, buckle up old Bonnie and
j est drive around IN New Harbor, and
ask at all the doors until I get them
sold out"
''Do you like ?" asked Lettuce
thoughtfully.
"Well, faint so disagreeable," was
the reflective answer.
''I should think it would be fun"
said Lettice. ooh, l should like to go
with you, Mrs. Medbury."
''Well, child, you shall ifyou've a
mind to. Pm going tomorrow morn
ing but you'll have to get up by 4
sOh. don't mind that" cried Let
Cice gleefully. cpl be sure to be
ready"
True to her word she was waiting
on the doorstep when the little wagon
came numbering round to the door at
) o'clock the next morning, it's I'M
painted seat draped by g. shaggy buf-
falo robe, and every available inch OF
room filed by tin pals of cream,
stone Jars of butter and baskets Of
berries. Mrs. Medbury, In g. curious
costume Of brown calico and shirred
brown silk bonnet. held the reins, and
Lettice nesting down at her side,
cIapped her little hands.
aOn, isn't this fun" cried Lettuce
s'You'n find it dreadful tiresome, :"
said Mrs. Medbury, chirping to the
somnolent horse.
"No, snail not" laughed the heir
ess.
"What rattling We do make, and
I'm sure that horse is lame"
mo, he ain IT, said Mrs. Medbury.
E'It's only the way ne goes al'ays."
The early morning drive through
the yet dewy country lanes was de-
Iightful, and as they approached the
suburbs Of the city Lettice was still
more amused. Old women in Tapping
cap borders rushed out to parley
with Mrs. Medbury, as to price and
quality of her wares. Grocers came
to their steps to see if she had
brought them anything choice, for the
brown wagon and old Bonnie were
well known in that vicinity, and chill
dren ran to apprise their mothers,
aunts and other fruit-buying guardi-
ans that the old woman with the hop
ping horse had come.
While Lettice looked on at this en-
tirely new phrase of life with infinite
delight and entertainment, holding
the reins wnen Mrs. Medbury got out
and watching Bonnie with secret
trepidation lest he should take it
into his shaggy head to run away.
"What would nay city friends think
were any of them to see me now?"
che tbouoht smilinp under the shad